與傳統的室外農耕相比，垂直農業用地面積相對少得多，因此它最初被視為一種節省空間的創新種植方式。雖然人們曾認為這個種植方式前景大好，但如今它正面臨威脅。垂直農場上的作物是在沒有陽光的受控環境下、依靠LED燈光生長的，因此從一定程度上看，能源成本的上升導致了垂直農業的現狀不容樂觀。垂直農業是否已經走到了盡頭？本期節目圍繞這個話題展開討論。

詞匯：farming 農耕

Why do farmers grow crops outside in fields when we can stack them vertically? The idea of vertical farming was first proposed in 1999. It was seen as a way to save space, reduce air miles and transform old and abandoned buildings, like warehouses. In 2021, Fortune Business Insights valued the global vertical farming market at 3.47 billion dollars. Now, however, this industry is under threat, partly due to rising energy costs.

According to the magazine Science Focus, vertical farming gives ten times the yield of conventional outdoor farming. However, in order for crops to grow using this method, plants are placed in a controlled environment, grown not under the Sun, but under LED lights and watered with recycled water pumped on a closed-loop system.

Unfortunately, energy prices have risen across the globe. Therefore, this reliance on electricity has meant the last few years have not been easy for the industry. Cindy van Rijswick, from the Dutch research firm RaboResearch, has estimated that operational costs for a vertical farm are around 15% higher now compared to 18 months ago. Infarm, Europe's largest vertical farming company, made around 500 employees redundant back in November 2022 because they needed to downsize. They blamed higher operating costs due to energy increases as one reason for the layoffs. 

Another issue related to the cost-of-living crisis and affecting vertical farming is the type of produce grown. This includes herbs such as basil, as well as salad leaves and leafy greens. Compared to traditionally farmed ingredients, like onions and carrots, these products are more expensive so could be less in demand as consumers watch their spending more.

So, it seems a future with food grown under LED lights is looking less and less bright.

詞匯表

crop 作物，莊稼
field 田地
stack 疊放，摞起來
vertical farming 垂直農業
air mile （食物）里程
warehouse 倉庫
yield 產量
controlled environment 受控的環境
LED light 發光二極管（LED）燈
pump 用泵輸送
closed-loop 閉環的
reliance 依賴
operational cost 運營成本
make redundant 裁員
downsize （公司或組織）減員
layoff （因工作崗位不足的）解雇
cost-of-living crisis 生活成本危機
produce 農產品
basil 羅勒
salad leaves 拌沙拉常用的菜葉
leafy greens 綠葉蔬菜
farmed 耕種的，種植的

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What three advantages of vertical farming are given?

2. How are plants watered in a vertical farm?

3. True or false? It is 15% more expensive to run a vertical farm now, compared to 18 months ago.

4. Why did Infarm make 500 employees redundant?

5. Why might consumers choose to buy more traditionally farmed ingredients than vertical farming produce?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. The potential _______ for the new drones is said to be worth around $1 million.

crop                              field                          market                     air mile

2. At home, she _______ the books she had brought from the library.      

stacked                         relied                        pumped                   blamed

3. We are buying a smaller house. We need to _______ since the kids moved out.

make redundant           downsize                   grow                        retail

4. My family always grow carrots and _______ in the garden each summer. 

layoff                             farming                     greens                     cost

5. We eat a lot of _______ green vegetables at home.

farmed                          leafy                          controlled                 LED

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。 

1. What three advantages of vertical farming are given?

Vertical farming was seen as a way to save space, reduce air miles and transform old and abandoned buildings.

2. How are plants watered in a vertical farm?

They are watered with recycled water pumped on a closed-loop system.

3. True or false? It is 15% more expensive to run a vertical farm now, compared to 18 months ago.

True. It is estimated that operational costs for a vertical farm are around 15% higher now compared to 18 months ago.

4. Why did Infarm make 500 employees redundant?

They needed to downsize. They blamed higher operating costs due to energy increases as one reason for the layoffs. 

5. Why might consumers choose to buy more traditionally farmed ingredients than vertical farming produce?

Because compared to traditional farmed ingredients, vertical farming produce are more expensive so could be less in demand as consumers watch their spending more.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. The potential market for the new drones is said to be worth around $1 million.

2. At home, she stacked the books she had brought from the library.        

3. We are buying a smaller house. We need to downsize since the kids moved out.

4. My family always grow carrots and greens in the garden each summer. 

5. We eat a lot of leafy green vegetables at home.